CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX is preparing to launch four small communications satellites into high Earth orbit Wednesday night from Florida’s Space Coast, marking a significant expansion for satellite manufacturer Astranis.
The Falcon 9 rocket launch is scheduled for a nearly four-hour window beginning at 10:39 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, dubbed “Astranis: From One to Many,” represents the San Francisco company’s largest deployment to date.
“This is a huge milestone for Astranis. We’re going from one to many satellites, and this is the first time anyone has ever launched four satellites together like this,” said Astranis CEO John Gedmark in a statement.
Two of the “MicroGEO” satellites will provide in-flight connectivity for Colorado-based Anuvu’s airline customers. A third satellite will serve customers in the Philippines, while the fourth, UtilitySat, is designed for multiple users throughout its operational life.
The satellites will be deployed into geosynchronous transfer orbit approximately 35 minutes after launch. They will then navigate to geosynchronous orbit, 22,236 miles above Earth, where they will maintain fixed positions relative to the ground below.
“These are our most advanced satellites yet, with a number of improvements that will generate increased capacity and affordability,” Gedmark added.
The mission will also feature another SpaceX booster landing attempt. The Falcon 9’s first stage, flying its 17th mission, is scheduled to touch down on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean about 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX will stream the launch live on its X (formerly Twitter) platform, with coverage beginning approximately 15 minutes before liftoff.
